Fmr. Ala. State Trooper pleads guilty to ethics violation

Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange announced Thursday the felony ethics conviction of a former state trooper for using a state credit card to buy gasoline for his personal use. Jonathan Dees, 48, of Spanish Fort, had been stationed at the Mobile office of the Alabama Department of Public Safety.

Dees pleaded guilty Thursday morning in Baldwin County Circuit Court. He was sentenced to 60 months, which was suspended, and ordered to serve a term of six months of supervised probation, to pay court costs, and a fine of $100 to the Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Fund.

Court documents include records of the State's evidence against Dees, including the defendant's confession; video evidence of Dees purchasing the gasoline; and documentation that, on his days off, he used his trooper vehicle and bought gas for his personal use with the state credit card. Prior to pleading guilty, Dees repaid $2,204.09 for purchases between the approximate dates of July 2009 and January 2011.

"This case is a sad example of someone who has betrayed not only the trust of taxpayers and the law that he was sworn to uphold, but also his fellow law enforcement officers who have earned our trust and respect," said Attorney General Strange. "Our message to all is that public corruption must be fought so that Alabama citizens may have confidence on those who serve the public."

The Attorney General commended Assistant Attorney General Pete Smyczek and Deputy Attorney General Mike Duffy of the Attorney General's Special Prosecutions Division, and thanked the Alabama Bureau of Investigation, for their successful handling of this case.

The Attorney General's Office presented evidence to grand juries in February and March of 2012, resulting also in indictments against two other former state troopers, against whom charges are still pending. Terry Stallworth, also formerly of the Mobile office of the Department of Public Safety, is scheduled for trial on January 7, 2013. A trial date has not been set in the case of Kenneth Grisset, who had been stationed at the Tuscaloosa State Trooper Post.